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Memorial ID: 34921
On Sunday, August 9, 2020, John Tetje Spitznagel, passed away at the age of 78 at his home.
John was born on September 3, 1941 in Auburn, NY to John Frederick and Mary (Armstrong) Spitznagel. The family moved to Rochester, NY where John graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1959. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Rider University in 1963, and M.B.A. in Marketing from Fairleigh-Dickinson University in 1974. On June 27, 1964, he married Yvonne Alexander, and they raised two children, Yvonne and John Tetje (JT), Jr. Following Yvonne’s death in 1999, he married Mary Ann Carbonaro on May 7, 2005.
Often recognized as one of the “Deans of the Pharmaceutical Industry,” his career in the business spanned 50 years beginning as a sales representative for Warren Teed Pharmaceuticals, followed by Warner-Chilcott Laboratories; Roche Laboratories; Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories where he went from marketing director to senior VP of marketing and sales; BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Reed and Carnrick Pharmaceuticals where he served as President; Roberts Pharmaceutical Corp., serving as President and CEO; ESP Pharma as the Chairman and CEO; Esprit Pharma as the Chairman and CEO; Oceana Pharma as the Chairman and CEO; and NovaSom Inc. as CEO.
He is credited with launching and managing some of the most well known pharmaceutical products in history including Valium, full lines of Women’s Healthcare products, hospital products, and leading some of the largest and most successful mergers and acquisitions in the industry.
During those years, Mr. Spitznagel became a respected leader in his field, earning many awards including the Hoke Award for most successful direct-mail campaign in 1974, Entrepreneur of the Year 2005 and 2010, Top 50 Best Companies to Work For in 2004, and Winner of the Direct Marketing Association Best Direct Mail Campaign. In 2014, he earned the honor as a Round Table member by Strathmore’s Who’s Who “for his outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of Healthcare Sales and Marketing.” This award earned him a digital image on a screen in Times Square.
Mr. Spitznagel also served on various public and private boards, including Shire Pharmaceuticals, IRX Therapeutics, Vivus, and several others. He was especially proud to be on the Rider University Board of Trustees from 2001-2010 and was a member of Rider’s Science Advisory Board from 1998-2002. He helped fund the renovation of the main theater which was named for his wife Yvonne, and a smaller theater which is known as the Spitz Theater. Mr. Spitznagel was a generous donor to human and animal rights foundations, and believed in the sanctity of all life.
He credited his business success to the “terrific support” and encouragement of his first wife, and to finding good people who committed to a team. Others would say his ability to motivate others to do their best, along with his encouragement, made people want to work for him. John was known for his ability to foster camaraderie by bringing together people and teams from disparate backgrounds and leading them to achieve successes few have matched in the pharmaceutical industry or in life. John was ferociously loyal to his teams, and they were to him.
John was a man who loved his family and friends and gave generously to them. He believed in living life, which he did well, and he was grateful to have been loved by two exceptional women. His ability to tell a story and make everyone laugh will not be forgotten, although he might say, “I don’t know,” which should still bring a laugh to those who knew him. He enjoyed reading poetry, literature and biographies, especially those of Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln; swimming; fishing; and sailing. He had the great fortune to travel extensively throughout the world, but his favorite place was Long Beach Island, NJ where the sunsets never disappointed.
John was preceded in death by his father, John; his mother, Mary; and his first wife Yvonne, and her parents Teresa and Louis Alexander. He is survived by his second wife Mary Ann, his children Yvonne (Bob) Previdi, and JT (Cynthia) Spitznagel, and his beloved grandchildren John T. Spitznagel III, Gregory Spitznagel, Gianna Previdi, Harrison Previdi, and Jackson Previdi. Also surviving are his sister Mary Ann (Stewart) DeVolld, his brother-in-law Joe Carbonaro, and niece Sarah Carbonaro, and his feline friend Winston.
To honor John’s memory, the family suggests making a donation in his name to your favorite charity.
Visitation will be held on August 12, 2020 at 4:00 pm at Frank E. Campbell - The Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Ave, New York, NY. Funeral Service will be held on August 12, 2020 at 7:00 pm at Frank E. Campbell - The Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Ave, New York, NY. Committal Service will be held on August 13, 2020 at 11:00 am at St. Teresa's, 1 Passaic Ave, Summit, NJ.
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